She hesitated before replying, wondering what he would think of her. “Yes...he’s here.”
“He’s there with you?” The sound of disappointment and anger laced his voice.
She couldn’t blame him though. But why was he talking so weird? “Travis why do you sound so...nasally? Did you catch a cold?”
“No, my nose is broken.”
Savannah stopped drying herself. She grabbed her phone and pushed the speaker button off. “Oh my God! Travis what happened?!”
“Billy punched me.”
“What? Why?!”
“Well, I kind of told him that I kissed you and proposed to you.”
“Oh no Travis, you didn’t. Why would you tell him that?”
“I don’t know it just slipped out. I was angry with the way he was treating you. Like you didn’t exist to him at all. You deserve better than that.”
Savannah sat quietly in her bed, contemplating if she should tell Travis about marrying Billy. She decided it wasn’t the right time to tell him and telling him over the phone was the coward’s way out. She at least owed him an explanation.
“Savannah, you still there?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“What’s wrong? You sound funny, are you okay?” “I’m fine.”
“No you’re not. I can hear it in your voice.”
One thing about Travis was he always knew when something was bothering her. “I think we should talk later today when I get off work. I’ll stop by later so we can talk.”
“Okay Savvy. I’ll see you later.”
“Travis...”
“Yeah?”
“Bye.”
“Bye.”
Savannah placed her phone on the bed again and dressed quickly. Her extra hour of time was almost out. She only had ten minutes left to get ready and get in the car, otherwise she was going to be late. She made her way downstairs to the living room where Billy was sitting reading a magazine while he waited for her. She tapped the floor with her foot and stood over him with her hands on her hips. “What is wrong with you? Are you crazy?”
He put the magazine back down on the coffee table and looked up at her. “Is that a rhetorical question or am I supposed to answer? Cause’ I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about Travis’ nose. Why did you do that? Are you insane?”
Billy lowered his head clearly ashamed of what he’d done. “Shit.” He cursed under his breath. “I didn’t mean to... It was just... He made me so angry. Savannah he said he kissed you and asked you to marry him. I always thought I would be the first and only man to ever pop the question to you.”
“Billy, how many times do I have to tell you I don’t love Travis like that? I love only you. It has always been you. I...”
He rose off the couch and took her hand in his. “I know that now. I’m so sorry for what I did, I really am.”
“It’s not me who you have to apologize to. Look, I know you’re hurt and angry, but you can’t do things like that. You’re going to have to learn how to curb your temper. Come on, let’s get going. I’m going to be late.”
Billy brought her hands to his lips and kissed each of them softly. “I’m so sorry Savannah, for everything.”
She didn’t say anything. She only pressed her palm against his scarred cheek and ran her hand through his brown hair.
The ride to the hospital was pretty quiet and they made small conversation about the weather and such. As she pulled up to the building, Billy sat straight up in the passenger seat. “What are we doing here?”
“I work here.”
“At the Veteran’s Hospital?”
“I’m sure Travis told you I was a nurse.”
“Well, yes, but he didn’t say you worked here. Why pick this hospital to work in?”
Savannah turned the key in the ignition and the engine cut off. “I didn’t. I was assigned to do my internship here. I didn’t want to work here at all. I didn’t want to be reminded of the things you might be going through every day. It was heartbreaking. But, I had no choice in the matter. there were no bother placements for me, so I had to stay. Others I wouldn’t have been able to get my degree.
At first, I had to try and comprehend why any man would risk his or her own life for perfect strangers. But, after I talked to many of the patients here I completely understood it was something each had to do in their hearts. Every soldier here has a different reason for joining, but everyone had one thing in common. Their love for this country gave them the will to protect it.”
“Savannah I hope you understand now, I needed to join the Army. I wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than this town. I wanted my mother to be proud of her son despite the hardships we went through with our father. I didn’t want to become the man he was.”
She placed her hand on his scarred cheek and stroked it gently. “Yes, I know that now. Even though it was painful for me at times but I do understand. It was so hard not having you by my side but I know you were needed for something far more important than me. I would be so proud to be your wife.”
Billy removed her hand from his face and kissed the inside of her palm. “I am the proud one. Proud that I have a woman like you by my side.”
When they walked through the entrance of the hospital, most of the patients waved at Savannah. Billy could see how well liked she was by all of them. Savannah was so easy to love and her smile could lighten up any room. It was no wonder that his brother fell in love with her.
They boarded a small elevator up to the tenth floor. When they got off, he saw most of the patients on the floor were missing limbs, or in recovery from surgery. As he watched Savannah sign in, a man in a wheel chair rolled by him and grazed his bad leg. The leg rest of the wheelchair got hooked on Billy’s pant leg and twisted it sideways. “Ahh!” Billy’s scream rang throughout the quiet hallway causing everyone to look in his direction.
Savannah came running over to him. “Billy what happened? Are you okay?”
Billy was doubled over in pain as the young man apologized profusely. “Aw man, I’m so sorry. Damn wheelchair.”
When Billy looked up at him he saw that the guy was missing both his legs. He didn’t know what to say to him. What he wanted to do was curse him out for not looking where the fuck he was going, but he figured the guy had enough problems already without him screaming his head off. “I’m okay.”
“Dude, I’m so sorry. I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of this damn chair.”
Billy inhaled a deep breath and sighed heavily. “I’m fine, really.”
Savannah pulled him aside. “Are you really okay? I can take a look at your leg if you want me to.”
“It’s not necessary. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Savannah I’m fine.”
“Good cause’ there’s someone I want you to meet.”
Billy followed her into a room where there was an older gentlemen lying in bed and an older woman sitting in a chair next to him with their hands laced together. Both looked like they were asleep, but as soon as Savannah entered the room the man started to talk and the woman’s eyes fluttered open. “Well, if it isn’t my girl. How are you doing dear? I missed you yesterday.”
“Hi Mr. Johnson. I was off yesterday. How are you feeling today?”
“Better than last week.”
“Mr. Johnson you were in a coma last week.”
“Well, since I’m talking now I say that’s a big improvement, wouldn’t you?”
Savannah’s laugh filled the room and the couple smiled along with her. “Mr. Johnson I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”
Savannah turned to his wife sitting in the chair beside him. “How are you doing this morning Mrs. Johnson?”
“Good, not bad at all. A little tired though. But, you see what I have to put up with don’t you?” The man’s wife nodding her head in the direction of her husband.
Billy was in awe of th
e way Savannah spoke and cared for her patients. She treated every one as if they we’re someone special to her. She crossed the room to where Billy stood and took his hand in hers. “Mr. & Mrs. Johnson this is Billy. My fiancé.”
The old man looked at his wife before speaking. “So, this is the famous Billy we’ve been hearing about for the last two years.”
Billy made his way over to the hospital bed and stuck out his hand. “Well, I don’t know about famous, but it’s nice to meet you sir. I hope whatever was said about me wasn’t all bad.”
“On the contrary, Savannah is very proud of you.”
Billy looked over at the love of his life and smiled. He knew how angry she must have been with him after leaving her, but she still managed to say good things about him to others.
Mrs. Johnson rose from her chair and shook Billy’s hand. “Well, it was nice meeting you Billy. But, if you don’t mind I’m going to have to excuse myself and get a cup of coffee. Would anyone like anything?”
Billy would have loved a cup of coffee, but he didn’t want to impose on a complete stranger, so he politely declined. “No, thank you ma’am.”
“Well, I’m off then. I shall return soon. And don’t give Savannah any trouble while I’m gone.” Mrs. Johnson leaned over the bed railing and kissed her husband on the cheek before leaving. Just before walking out of the room she turned back around. “Billy...”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Thank you for your service to our country.”
“You’re welcome ma’am. It was my job and my pleasure.”
She smiled a sweet smile and exited the room. Billy looked over at Savannah and saw the tears already beginning to build in her eyes. “Don’t cry.” She reached in her pocket, pulled out a tissue, and gently dabbed the corners of her eyes. “Okay, I’ll try not to.”
All of a sudden Billy felt a stabbing pain shoot through his entire leg. He almost fell over from the agony it caused him. Savannah ran to his side worried. She placed a chair by Mr. Johnson’s bedside where Billy had been standing and gently pushed him backward into it. His leg started to shake and tremble, Billy was trying to hold it in place. Why? Why the fuck did this have to happen now?
“Oh my God Billy. What can I do? Do you need me to get a doctor? I can’t give you anything without a doctor looking at you first.”
“No. I’m fine.”
“But, Billy your leg...”
“I said I’m fine dammit!”
Mr. Johnson looked at Savannah and smiled. “Savannah, give us a minute will you?”
“But, Mr. Johnson I can’t just leave him here like this.”
“He’ll be fine. Just give us a few minutes.”
“Okay, fine. But, I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
Mr. Johnson nodded and waited until Savannah left the room before he looked at Billy. “You know you can’t drive everyone you love away from you whenever you’re in pain.” He poured Billy a glass of water and handed it to him.
Billy popped a few pain killers into his mouth and took the cup from him. He swallowed a few mouthfuls and spoke through gritted teeth. “I’m not driving anyone away.”
“Oh, not yet you mean. Look son, I know exactly how you feel. Always in pain and angry at the world. But, you can’t expect the people who love you to be there to accept everything you have to dish out. There will come a time when you will be sitting by yourself, a lonely man who has no one left because your anger drove everyone away.”
Billy was so annoyed at this complete stranger giving him advice on something he didn’t understand. He had no scars on his face or any disfigurements. “I don’t mean any disrespect sir, but what do you know about how I feel?”
Billy watched as Mr. Johnson pulled back his bed sheet and saw his right leg had been amputated right above the knee. Shock was the only thing to describe what he was feeling. “Sir...I...”
“Please, call me David.”
“David I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. It happened a long time ago, but it feels as if it happened just yesterday. This happened to me when I served in World War II. It’s something I rarely talk about. I don’t feel the need to scare my wife. But, believe me I do know how you feel. Sometimes I can actually feel my leg. It’s the weirdest sensation one can have. Sometimes the pain is so bad you just want to take a bottle full of pills and end it all. I have learned to deal with the pain and mental anguish through it all. I have had two heart attacks and an episode of cancer. I have gone through triple bypass surgery and chemotherapy and let me tell you that was nothing compared to the catastrophic situations I have witnessed serving overseas. Son, I know it may seem hard now and you feel like giving up at times, but believe me that little girl out there loves you beyond words. I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you. I saw it every time she mentioned your name. I consider myself lucky to have had my wife by my side for the last 60 years and I know you feel the same way about Savannah. Don’t make the mistake of driving the one you love the most away. There is only so much a person will take and you don’t want to be the cause of her breaking point, because it will be you who will be at a big loss, and it will devastate you for the rest of your life.”
Billy took Mr. Johnson’s advice to heart. He didn’t want to become a mean and angry man. The man who drove away his one and only love. There was no way he could ever live without Savannah in his life. He couldn’t go through that heartache again, and he sure as Hell wouldn’t hurt her anymore more than he already had. “Thanks David.”
Savannah came back into the room and rushed over to Billy. “Are you okay?”
Billy looked over at David and then at Savannah. He smiled, wondering how lucky he was to have such a beautiful, caring, and loving woman in his life. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good because we’re leaving now.”
“But we just got here. Don’t leave work because of me.”
“Tracey found a babysitter so I don’t need to fill in for her today. Let’s go home.”
Billy got up out of his chair slowly. The medication had started doing its job to relieve some of the pain he was in. “Okay.” Billy shook David’s hand and proceeded to walk away.
Savannah turned to Mr. Johnson and leaned over to kiss his cheek. She whispered in his ear. “Thank you.”
Mr. Johnson winked at her and then waved goodbye. “I’ll see you Monday.”
Chapter Nine
Savannah tried to make conversation with Billy on the way to his house, but all he would give her were yes and no answers. She didn’t want to force him to talk to her, but she didn’t want him to shut her out either. She took a right turn onto the street where there was a new strip mall built. It had been there only a couple of years. Savannah surprised Billy when she shouted. “Oh shoot!”
“What’s the matter?”
“I totally forgot to pick up my mother’s blood pressure medicine. Do you mind if we stopped by and picked it up for her? She doesn’t need it right away, but I know I’ll forget it again if I don’t get it now.”
Billy leaned against the window with his eyes closed. “No, of course not.”
Savannah pulled up in front of the pharmacy. She left the car running with the air conditioner on while she went into the store. She was only gone for a few minutes before she walked up to her car and knocked on the passenger side window.
Billy rolled down the window. “Forget something?”
“No. Got my mother’s medication here. Can you put it in the console please?”
“Sure.”
“Billy?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay to walk down the block? She gave him a big smile. “I want to pick up some ice cream for home. If not, it’s okay. I can walk by myself really quick.”
“Sure. How can I say no to those big beautiful brown eyes?”
Savannah noticed Billy was walking better, but he didn’t have his cane with him. “Billy, where’s your cane?”
&
nbsp; “Don’t ask. Besides, I feel better now. I only need it when I’m in extreme pain.”
She threaded her arm through his as they strolled down the street without a care in the world. That was at least until Savannah saw Sydney Bradshaw and her gang of dimwitted cronies, Brandy Davis and Jessica Watts standing in front of the ice cream shop. She stopped in her tracks and wanted to turn around but then thought, why should she have to go without something she wanted just because they were there.
As she walked up to the door with Billy, Sydney greeted them with her fake pleasantries. “Hi Savannah. Hi Billy.”
Savannah walked right past her and into the store, Billy followed close behind her. When they were finished buying their scream they proceeded to leave and walk back towards her car, but the sound of Sydney clicking her tongue at them made Savannah whip around.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the spic and the cripple. What a pair those two make.” Savannah watched angrily as Sydney’s friends began laughing at her and Billy.
Billy grabbed Savannah’s arm when she lunged forward and pulled her back. “Savannah don’t. That’s exactly what she wants. She’s just looking for attention.”
She yanked her arm out of his grasp and strode down the sidewalk towards Sydney. “Well, she’s going to have more attention than she bargained for this time.”
Billy tried to catch up to her, but she was walking too fast. Savannah was already face to face with Sydney. “What are you jealous Sydney that Billy wanted me instead of you. Angry that no matter how much you threw yourself at him, it was me he wanted.”
Sydney let out a phony laugh. “Moi, jealous of you? Yeah right.”
“I think you are jealous. The only man you couldn’t have wanted me instead of you and it’s killing you.”
“You are so wrong. There is no way I would want to be with a cripple. So take your broken little man and go home.”
Before Savannah had a chance to think, her anger got the better of her. As she pulled her arm back and made a fist she heard Billy yell from behind her. “Savannah no!”
But, it was too late. Her arm was already in motion and she punched Sydney right in her mouth sending her flying backward and onto the concrete sidewalk. Savannah grabbed her hand as it immediately began to swell. “Shit!”
Field Stripped: 15 Steamy Military Romances Page 15
